Hard times have fallen upon the land of Nik Snacks. Well, my blog is fine. It's me, Nikki, the professional that you know & love who is having a hard time right now. An economic crises of grand proportions has hit my house and since it's just me...I'm the only person accountable for myself. I've been pulling myself up by my boot straps (ok, ok....Crocs straps) as of late, but I'm getting nowhere. So...no food for now. Only food for thought.

Buying seasonally is the way to go. It's more economical and healthier to buy your food this way. It's OK to want fresh corn in November. You'll just have to go to the grocery store & visit the frozen foods section.

There are four farmer's markets in my area that sell everything from vegetables to meats & natural home remedy products to jewelry. I go to the market strictly for my vegetables & goat cheese (omg...Goat Lady Dairy goat cheese is the most perfect chevre on earth. Never have I ever put anything so creamy, fresh, & delicious in my mouth!)

You cannot beat the prices of food at the farmer's market. For example, a 10 pound bag of russet potatoes (the guys were so huge there were only 6 in the bag) cost me $3 at the market. I had to go to Harris Teeter & I saw russets for $5.99. A 5 lb. bag of carrots at the market, 79 cents. At the grocery store? $4.99.

I was not a math major in college, but...

Most of our comes from farms. That's where food is grown. Going to the market gives you the opportunity to:a) buy local b) speak to the producers who toiled & labored to give you those pretty turnip greens c) save infinite amounts of money

#2 Buy in smaller quantities

When I buy sliced meat & cheese for my sandwiches, I never ever buy the pre-packaged meat. 102% of the time, you'll see me standing in line at the deli. Why?a) it's fresherb) they let you sample whatever you wantc) you can tell them how much you want, how you want it sliced, & it's cheaper

I want good tasting food. That is my #1 priority in life. Knowing the package of bologna (which I'd never eat anyway...it grosses me out, slightly) has been processed & has aUSE BY date, doesn't make me feel good about eating it.

I'd never tried Cajun fried turkey breast until last night. The lady in the deli let me try a slice. It was delicious. Then I asked for another...just to make sure I liked it. I did. Then I asked for a "sample" of provolone. Ha ha...I just got a free snack!

I like the deli because you can decide if you're buying for weight or for price. When I was in high school, I worked at a grocery store & instead of discounts off merchandise, we were allowed 10% off every $40 we spent. This is a gourmet grocery retailer where a gallon of organic milk was $5.99....10 years ago! So $40 was going to get you a box of crackers, a head of hydroponic lettuce & maybe 4 or 5 gummy bears from the bulk section. I'd take my certificate, go to the deli, and go to town.

Nikki -What are your favorite farmer's markets around Winston, and what are the relative pros/cons of each one? I just moved here from Durham, so I'm having a little withdrawl from the Durham and Carrboro Farmer's Markets (not to mention Trader Joe's)

To anonymous: The Piedmont Triad Market in Colfax is my #1 choice. It's on the Sandy Ridge Road exit off I-40. Go there to get the goat cheese! #2 is the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceyville Street. #3 is the Winston-Salem Farmer's Market at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. Go at 6 am to get the best stuff. By 8:00, most of the goods are gone. To find other farmer's markets, go to http://localharvest.org. The above are just where I go all of the time.

Hey Nikki,These are weird times indeed. We have so much to be excited about, but can't afford the champagne to celebrate with. The economy really, really stinks and farmer's markets are a good way to go. I heard someone say we could also just eat a lot less, which would save our wallets and waistlines. But what fun is that?

I just realized the deli tip. I was amazed at how much more I got and for the lower price. If it wasnt for CS, I dont know what I would do.Im personally so stretched out with money , I am about to snap.

Nikki, I'm sending a big mental hug your way and I hope that things turn around soon. These are really terrific tips, both for the wallet and the figure, and I will put them to good use in my own life. Hang in there.

Girl, I understand ALL too well about how things hit ya and you don't get to post as you would like. The last 2 weeks have been a slow moving train wreck for me as well. I hope all is now going smooth for you.

Hang in there and in the meantime, your thinking about adjustments is right on and great advice for all of us. I'll have you in my thoughts when I go out tonight and count lucky stars. I'll pick one just for you. Muah.

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About Me

Nikki Miller-Ka is a professional food blogger and food critic based in Winston-Salem. She writes and bites about local and regional restaurant trends, food organizations, food producers and everything culinary on her blog, Nik Snacks (niksnacksonline.com) and her bimonthly Casual Dining column in the Greensboro News & Record. On the weekends, she is a tour guide Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours.
Miller-Ka was classically trained at Le Cordon Bleu College Of Culinary Arts in Miami and holds degrees in English from East Carolina University. Formerly, she’s been a judge for the James Beard Foundation, featured in Southern Living Magazine & New York Magazine, worked an editorial assistant, news reporter and guest blogger for various publications and outlets in the Southeast. She has worked as a catering chef, a pastry chef, a butcher, a baker, and a biscuit-maker.
Presently, she resides in Winston-Salem and a proud member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, Winston-Salem Jaycees and Girl Scouts of the USA.